By GottaLaff
According to accounts from the Steve Cohen health care event in Memphis Tennessee, the teabaggers are showing up armed:
Steve Steffens at Right Wing Cracker: "Randy Wade is to be complimented as well; he arranged for security. There were actually idiots who brought guns (legally, it seems they had carry permits, but why did they feel they needed them?). Yes, you read that right, and Randy made them all check in with the Sheriff's Deputies on hand.
Gordon G via FDL Event Tracker: "Beginning early in the proceedings many attendees who were clearly against health insurance reform began trying to speak (and shout) out of turn, at times chanting in unison. These bullying attempts were contained by the rest of the crowd, who variously applauded speakers supporting reform, demanded that hecklers behave, and engaged thugs one-on-one to keep the peace." [...]
Tennessee Wisc Dem: The thing I wish Steve hadn’t done was ask any doctors present to speak first. Did he think doctors would be liberal? He thereby gave voice to every right-wing talking point you have heard. Several times he had to follow a doctor by saying "It’s not in the bill." I remember this especially with care for illegal aliens, but abortion and euthanasia both came up. The most prominent sign in the room was "don’t kill my GiGi." When Steve specifically said there was nothing in the bill to do this, and praised his family’s experience with hospice, he was roundly booed.
[...] Why is he front loading the meeting with anti-public plan "authority figures" if he intends to hold the line for what he says he believes in?
There is absolutely no reason to come armed to a health care town hall meeting. It's supposed to be an exchange of ideas, not bullets.
On the other hand, it's beginning to feel as if our side would be justified, citing self-defense. And how pathetic is it that I even felt the need to write that, even half-kiddingly?
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